Happy New Year!
Excited to be sharing my listening habits with you again this year—if anyone’s interested, of course!
This month’s mix is a bit all over the place. January always feels musically odd to me—there’s a lingering hangover from last year’s hits, but not much new to get excited about yet. I think that’s reflected in my listening habits over the past few weeks—an eclectic collection of songs spanning different eras and genres.
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1) Shania Twain – You’re Still The One
Hopelessly romantic, a little cheesy maybe but certainly very beautiful. One of the more successful Country-Pop crossover songs that enabled country music to be heard and appreciated by a wider audience. Shania’s vocals are distinctive and gorgeous, as are the harmony layered backing vocals in the chorus. One of the greatest love songs of all time.
2) En Vogue – Don’t Let Go
One of the best R&B tracks of the 90’s. Furious, whaling guitars, aggressive vocals, harsh piano chords with an awesome chorus. Those harmonies are fierce too! Girl power at its best.
3) Wolf Alice – Your Loves Whore
Wolf Alice have been my new discovery this week. Their album is definitely worth a listen, a collection of uniquely and innovatively arranged indie tracks. This is one of the most powerful songs from the album; love the sheer power of it and its slightly distorted feel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wadaoz94MXg
4) Wolf Alice – Freazy
SO good. Dreamy and smooth with fierce percussion, a rich bass line, silky harmonies and squeaky guitars. Effortlessly catchy.
5) Wolf Alice – Swallowtail
Haunting and powerful with an explosive ending.
6) R. Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
R. Kelly at his best with his signature song. An amalgamation of R&B, Soul and Gospel music, this beautiful ballad was featured in the 1996 film ‘Space Jam’ before being included on Kelly’s 1998 album ‘R’. It’s simple but very beautiful featuring the classic 90’s key change!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQn8pab8Vc
7) Christina Perri – A Thousand Years
One of the most gorgeous love songs ever written. Perri’s voice is distinctively unique and drifts beautifully over minimal instrumentation. Don’t let the fact this was on the soundtrack to one of the Twilight movies influence your judgement; it’s a song that should be thought of entirely separate to the movie.
8) Joe Stone & Montell Jordan – The Party (This is how we do)
Nostalgia much?! Joe Stone gives Montell Jordan’s 90’s R&B classic ‘This is How We Do’ a makeover with thumping beats and bouncy synthesisers, resulting in a fun, updated version of the original.
9) Jose Gonzalez – Leaf off/The Cave
Stunning, soft folk-styled track. This is how music should be.
10) The Layabouts ft Portia Monique – Colours of Love
Soulful house track with funky guitar riffs, thumping percussion, a fierce bass line and soulful vocals. LOVE this!
1) Mark Ronson – The Giver (Radio 1 Live Lounge Performance)
Radio 1’s live lounge performances present an opportunity for artists to really demonstrate their art through adapting and arranging existing songs by other artists. This is an awesome interpretation of Duke Dumont’s ‘The Giver’. Ronson gives his cover a 90’s vibe with funky guitar riffs, a drum machine loop and whistling synthesisers. It’s a little repetitive but it’s a great version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An-xqjnHoHc
2) Prides – Messiah
Explosive, synthpop track by Scottish band Prides. It’s a little bit 80’s with a powerful sing-along chorus. Can’t get enough of this right now.
3) Justin Bieber, Skrillex & Diplo – Where Are U Now?
A bit of a guilty pleasure on many levels. A collaboration between two artists which I usually don’t have much time for, there is something both endearing and catchy about this EDM track. Bieber’s vocals are sincere and Skrillex and Diplo’s chaotic production adds an extra dimension to what could otherwise work perfectly well as a gorgeous ballad.
4) Flo Rida & Robin Thicke – I Don’t Like It, I Love it
Another guilty pleasure; I don’t think it is possible to shamelessly admit to enjoying any song with Flo Rida’s involvement. This is irresistibly catchy, however. Funky guitar riffs and bass lines, hand-clap percussion, silky smooth vocals from Thicke and a frighteningly seductive whistle hook, it’s the perfect pop song.
5) Major Lazer, DJ Snake and MO – Lean on
Much of this song’s success is built upon it’s amalgamation of different genres. It draws upon EDM, electropop, trap and moombhaton music, resulting in an utterly irresistible track with bouncy percussion and squeaky synthesisers. SO good.
6) Carly Rae Jepson – I really Like You
Whatever your opinion on Carly Rae Jepson, she sure knows how to write and perform catchy pop music. It is already at risk of becoming as irritating as ‘Call Me Maybe’ but for the moment, it remains the perfect pop song with Jepson’s famous breathy vocals, slamming beats and a repetitive refrain. Catchy as hell.
7) Mark Owen – Giveaway
The entirety of Owen’s solo career is criminally underrated and last album ‘The Art of Doing Nothing’ is no exception. ‘Giveaway’ is the haunting, rousing opening track, building into a catchy electropop song with Owen’s distinctive vocals echoing endlessly into the heavily synthesiser dependent backing track. Awesome song.
8) Oasis – Stand By Me
An often commercially overlooked Oasis track but just as awesome as their other material from the 90’s. Well written as always by Noel Gallagher & Liam’s prominent drool carries the song.
9) Circa Waves – My Love
This song has been a favourite of mine since the release of Circa Waves’ debut album earlier this year. There’s something incredibly beautiful about it despite it not being a ballad. It’s a massive indie track with raw electric guitars, fierce drums, driving bass lines and a passionate vocal performance by frontman Kieran Shudall. The song has been re-recorded for release as a single, an unnecessary move as the album version remains superior but it’s still awesome. I’m so glad it’s the next single.
10) Wolf Alice – Bros
LOVE this. Tinny, manic percussion, gentle vocals, a powerful driving bass line and reverberating guitars with an instantly memorable hook. One of the best songs out there right now.
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